Voice actor Mike McFarland dies at 56

Renowned American voice actor Mike McFarland has passed away at the age of 56. He died on September 9, 2026, in Dallas, Texas, following a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.

McFarland was a foundational figure in the English-language anime industry, particularly through his long-standing work with Funimation and Crunchyroll. He was widely recognized for voicing iconic characters, most notably Master Roshi and Yajirobe in ‘Dragon Ball Z’, Buggy the Clown in ‘One Piece’, and Jean Kirstein in ‘Attack on Titan’. His extensive credits also included roles in ‘Fullmetal Alchemist’, ‘Psycho-Pass’, and ‘Odd Taxi’.

Beyond voice acting, McFarland was a prolific professional who served as an ADR director, scriptwriter, and line producer. Colleagues and industry peers, including J. Michael Tatum and Colleen Clinkenbeard, have shared tributes honoring his talent and mentorship. His health struggles became public in early 2025 after an emergency surgery to remove a brain tumor, leading to a community-led GoFundMe campaign to support his medical expenses.